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Last month we shared a list of reasons why Vimeo is the coolest video site for creatives. However, we pointed out one undeniable fault in the alternative online video sharing site—creators had no options for monetizing their videos. Well that is about to change. Although Vimeo is still going to remain ad-free (so advertising revenue is off the table), today the video site has announced some new features to help creators make money off of their amazing work.

Last month we shared a list of reasons why Vimeo is the coolest video site for creatives. However, we pointed out one undeniable fault in the alternative online video sharing site—creators had no options for monetizing their videos. Well that is about to change. Although Vimeo is still going to remain non-commercial (so advertising revenue is off the table), today the video site has announced some new features to help creators make money off of their amazing work. Blake Whitman, VP of Creative Development at Vimeo, writes, “Today, we’re taking one of the most important steps in our evolution as a service, a company, and a community. We’re proud to introduce Vimeo Creator Services, our new suite of simple, powerful tools to help creators make more money for doing what they do best: entertaining us, engaging us, baffling and outright dazzling us with amazing work.”

The first new tool is the “Tip Jar,” a button that Vimeo Plus or Vimeo PRO members can activate on a video. When the “Tip Jar” is activated, a “Tip this video” button will appear below the player on the video page. Viewers can click to send the creator money as a “thank you” for the entertainment. Check out the Tip Jar in action on the Vimeo page for Symmetry, Grand Prize winner of this year’s Vimeo Awards.

Even more exciting than the Tip Jar, in my humble opinion, is a new Pay-To-View service that will be rolled out over the coming months, giving creators tools to charge for access to the videos they create. Whitman writes, “We can’t say too much at the moment, but we can promise you’re going to like it.”

Check out the video below to find out more and let us know what you think.

Megan O’Neill is the resident web video enthusiast here at Social Times. Megan covers everything from the latest viral videos to online video news and tips, and has a passion for bizarre, original and revolutionary content and ideas.